Israel Police’s Traffic Division issued over 4,000 tickets on Thursday as part of an enforcement campaign aiming to crack down on traffic offenses across Israel.
Hundreds of police officers, patrol cars, motorcycles, and volunteers from police departments across the country participated in the operation, which used digital enforcement tools to identify incidents of dangerous driving.
Drivers were captured on camera engaging in offenses such as distracted driving, using a cellphone while driving, and speeding, with many of the traffic infractions being repeat offenses.
In one incident, a driver was stopped for driving while his driver's license was revoked. The driver was on his way to perform court-ordered community service that he was sentenced to after previously being charged with the same offense three times. The driver was arrested, and his vehicle was impounded, according to Israel Police.
Distracted driving on the rise
In another incident, a driver on Highway 6 was spotted using their cellphone while driving, with a child in the vehicle not properly secured with a seatbelt, posing a safety threat to the child and all other drivers on the road.
Among the thousands of tickets issued, more than 800 were for distracted driving or for using a cellphone while driving.
Israel Police emphasized that driving while using a cellphone is distracting and can lead to serious traffic incidents.
Thursday’s operation was part of an ongoing effort to reduce fatal traffic accidents. The joint operation from the Israel Police’s Traffic Division and the National Road Safety Authority, titled “Operation Commitment to Life,” has led to additional traffic patrol units being deployed on Israeli roads.